Sir Richard Branson commemorated his late wife, Joan, with a poignant New Year’s ceremony, which was a blend of music, joy, and heartfelt remembrance, nearly six weeks following her passing at the age of 80.
The renowned entrepreneur shared the news of Joan’s passing, his beloved partner of 36 years, via Instagram and LinkedIn on November 25.
“With a heavy heart, I announce that Joan, my wife and companion for half a century, has left us,” he expressed.
“She was the most extraordinary mother and grandmother our children and grandchildren could ever dream of having. She was my confidante, my anchor, my beacon, and my entire universe.”
At 75, Branson honored Joan’s memory with a touching ceremony on Necker Island, his exclusive 74-acre property in the British Virgin Islands.
The tribute gathered their two children, Holly, 44, and Sam, 40, who were born before the couple’s wedding on Necker Island in 1989.
Sir Richard Branson has paid tribute to late wife Joan in a special New Year service filled with ‘songs, laughter and tears’, some weeks after her death at the age of 80
The event included Branson’s two children – Holly and Sam – both of whom were born before his marriage to Joan on Necker Island in 1989
In video footage shared across social media, Branson, who appeared to be nursing an arm injury, his children and an assortment of friends were seen dressed in matching white shirts as they walked single file across the island’s rugged coastline.
The Virgin tycoon later gave a speech in honour of his late wife, whose cause of death has not been disclosed, as guests raised flutes of champagne.
Captioning the posts, he wrote: ‘My family and I have always believed in celebrating people’s lives, while they are with us and after they are gone. That is exactly what we did for Joan.
‘We held a beautiful celebration on Necker Island. There were stories, songs, laughter, and tears, all in honour of the most incredible partner, mum, grandmother, and friend.’
Branson revealed the family had chosen to honour Joan’s ‘otherworldly presence’ beneath the ‘brightest moon of the year’ on the final day of a ‘beautiful month.’
Separate images captured the businessman and his son in deep reflection while sat beneath the rising moon on Necker Island’s sweeping beach.
Sharing his own posts from the service, son Sam wrote: ‘A very special service for a very special woman.’
Speaking in November, Branson told Instagram followers how the devoted couple ‘never missed an opportunity to show love’ and always tried to make ‘incredible’ memories together.
Branson, his children and an assortment of friends were seen dressed in matching white shirts as they walked single file across the island’s rugged coastline
Branson and Joan’s son Sam watched as his father gave an emotional speech during the New Year ceremony
Branson appeared to be nursing an arm injury while conducting the service on behalf of his late wife
He wrote: ‘My sister @VanessaGBranson said we are experiencing uncomplicated grief, because we had such wonderful relationships with Joan, never missing an opportunity to share and show love, saying all we wanted to say and making incredible memories together’.
‘It made me think again how important it is to ensure you are on good terms with everyone in your life, as you never know when it will be too late. Life is short’.
Daughter Holly also shared an emotional tribute to her late mother as she reflected on the ‘initial shock and pain’ of her passing, describing her as ‘one in a billion, brilliant and kind’.
Posting photos with Joan throughout her childhood, Holly said she and her family ‘feel very loved’ following an outpouring of sympathies in the wake of her mother’s passing.
She captioned the post: ‘It’s taken a couple of weeks for me to write this, because how do you put 44 years of unconditional love into words?
Sam, a talented musician, also performed while celebrating his late mother’s life with assorted guests over the weekend
Poignant family snapshots of Joan and her loved ones decorated the site of her service
Sam shared a selfie with guests as they celebrated Joan’s life on Necker Island
‘That’s what sums up my amazing mum. She oozed love to everyone in her orbit and made everyone feel special. Especially me and Freddie, Sam and Bellie, Dad, and her precious grandchildren. We were her world and we knew it. I feel so thankful for that.
‘You know that your parents are going to die one day, but somehow your brain never really prepares you for the inevitable. People say time is a healer and in the space of two weeks, I can see that.
‘The initial shock and pain has shifted into a deep gratitude that I had such a brilliant, kind, caring mum who always showered us all with love.
‘Mum, you are one in a billion and I am trying to be more like you every day. The other day I was shopping with [Joan’s granddaughter] Etta and let her get a few more bits than I would have normally.
‘Etta turned to me and said, “You’re channelling your inner Amma.” That is exactly what I want to do. Channel you every day to be the best wife, mum, and, one day, grandparent I can be.
‘Thank you so much for all the lovely messages, cards, flowers and hugs over the last couple of weeks.
The billionaire business magnate announced the death of Joan, his devoted wife of 36 years, in a post shared with Instagram and LinkedIn followers on November 25
The couple on their wedding day on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands
‘I haven’t replied to everyone, but I’ve read every single one and they have meant more than I can say. We feel very loved and very held from all over the world.’
Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group, which includes Virgin Atlantic airline, space tourism company Virgin Galactic, luxury cruise vacation company Virgin Voyages and hospitality brand Virgin Hotels Collection.
In a 2020 blog post, he said he met Joan in 1976 at The Manor, a former recording studio in Oxfordshire, England.
‘Joan was a down-to-earth Scottish lady and I quickly realised she wouldn’t be impressed by my usual antics,’ Branson wrote.
The couple’s daughter Holly recently shared an emotional tribute to her late mother as she reflected on the ‘initial shock and pain’ of her passing
Holly reflected on her mother’s ‘unconditional love’, and said she wants to ‘channel her to be the best wife, mum and grandparent she can be’
The earliest picture of Richard and Joan. Lady Joan, who shares two children with Sir Richard, has long been credited as the billionaire’s ‘rock’
Branson recalled how his future wife worked at an antique shop that sold old signs and advertisements.
He added: ‘I hovered uncertainly outside the shop, then built up the courage to walk in… over the next few weeks, my visits to Joan amassed me an impressive collection of old hand painted tin signs, which advertised anything from Hovis bread to Woodbine cigarettes.’
The couple had three children, Holly, Sam and Clare Sarah. Clare Sarah died shortly after birth in 1979.
